Method of and means fob lockingi



Aug. 18, 1936. F E STAHL Re. 20,074

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR LOCKINGLY ENGAGING GOACTING ELEMENTS Original Filed June 23, .1953

' INVENTOA FRA N K E S TAH L 6. I Q a f I v y Reissued Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES METHOD OI AND ANS i]! LOCKINGLY ENGAGING OOAC'I'ING 8 FrankE.8tahl,'lonawanda,N.Y.,assignorto Columbus McKlImon Chain Corporation, Tonawanda, N. 1., a corporation of New York original application June 2:, 19:3, sir-m No. 677.299. Divided and application August 24, 1034, Suial No. 141,205, new Patent No. 2,025.-

556, dated December 24, 1935.

This application for reissue July 8, 1838, Serial No. 89,486

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-148) My invention relates in general to methods of and means for lockingly engaging coacting elements and, in particular, to such methods and means which are applicable for anchoring wire cables.

This is a division of .my original application Serial No. 677,299,!iled on June 23, 1933.

It is well known to those skilled in the art that cable ends are usually anchored by being passed through assleeve having a tapered bore afterwhich the wires and strands of the cable are unbraided and separated, and thereafter molten metal of low melting-point, such as lead or zinc, is poured into the sleeve and around the-wires and the strands. This method .is not only expensive, but when the cable is once attached by this method, the anchor can not be conveniently removed. It is also well known that attempts have been made to use wedges around the cable and placed in a tapered sleeve, but such wedges usually are of relatively hard material and do not conform to the wires and strands of the cable, and anchors of this type usually require some additional means for holding the wedges '-in shape, particularly if slack is likely to occur in the cable.

One of the objects of my invention has been to provide a method which will overcome the disadvantages above pointed out, and one which may be quickly and conveniently practiced either in lockingly engaging or disengaging the coacting elements.

Another object has been to provide a method of securing together two elenrents of relatively nonductile material by conforming segmental inserts of relatively ductile material to the coacting surfaces of the non-ductile elements.

Another object has been to provide an anchor means made of two metals having diflerent de-'- grees of ductility.

Another object of my invention has been to provide. anchor means having a sleeve of relatively non-ductile material and Jaws of relatively ductile material, whereby when pressed together and about the cable by axial movement, the inner faces of the jawswill mold themselves or be conformed to the wires and the strands of the cable.

Moreover, my invention is of such a'nature thatthe jaws will be self-locking. since because of their ductile nature they are not only conformed to theouter ribbed surface of the cable, but also to the tapered surface ofthe sleeve, thus making a perfect fit. Moreover, when my invention is used on relatively small cable drums, tbelaws, because .of

for the purpose. These jaws are cast and the used to complete the circle.

their ductility, permit the'cable to form or shape the edges of the jaws over which the cable is bent so that they will conform substantially to the curvature of the cable, thus preventing the cutting or kinking of the cable at this point.

The aflbOVG objects and-advantages have been accomplished by my invention. In the accompanying rawlng, I have shown one form of means fox-carrying 'out my method, it being obvious that other forms may be'used as hereinafter pointed out. In the drawing:

Fig. l is an exterior view of my anchor in place upon a cable. v

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Pig. 2.

Fig. 4' is a face view of one of the jaws of my anchor before being put into use.

Fig. 5 is a similasyiew of a jaw which has been used.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of my invention as applied to .a cable connector. I 7

Fig.7 is an end view of a jaw of slightly modifled form.

Fig. 8 is "a fragmentary, side, sectional elevation showing auxiliary locking means for the ,7 laws.

The means shown in the drawing comprises an outer sleeve ll made preferably of steel or other relatively non-ductile material and which is provided with a-tapered bore ll. Jaws I! are also provided. These jaws are made of some material which is more ductile than the sleeve Hi and I have found that certain bronzes are best suited exterior surface I! is'tapered and made to conform to the tapered bore ii of the sleeve. In the flat face of each of 'these Jaws is provided a recess it of general semi-cylindrlcal shaps which is provided with aplurality of ridges l5 between which are formed a number of semi-cylindrical helically arranged grooves It which conform subshown in the drawing, but't'wo jaws It are employed, but'lt is obvious that where a larger cable is to be anchored more segmental jaws may be In. carrying out my method by the device shown.'the Jaws 1: are placed about the cable with the grooves II thereof in registration with the strands II of the cable, and the sleeve II) which has previously been slipped over. the end 5 press whereby the sleeve with its cone-shaped bore II is forced along on the jaws Obviously, while this is a convenient form of assembling,

the jaws may be forced into the sleeve by any and conveniently united. It for any reason it other suitable means. As the laws are forced into the sleeve the outer surfaces thereof are brought into absolute conformity to the tapered'surface of the bore ll of the sleeve, and the ridges l5 and grooves it of thesemi-cylindrical recesses ll of the jaws are forced into intimate contact with the wires of the strands ll, thus causing these wires to be embedded in the faces of the grooves l6 and brin g the jaws in perfect'coni'ormity to the shape of the cable. It will be clear, therefore, that because of the ductility of the of.

the jaws, they are changed shape or molded by compression so as to conform to the coacting surfaces of the sleeve and cable. Since the jaws are thus forced into engagement with the small wires of the strands they not only grip the cable to a maximum degree, but they are so intimately engaged with the wires and strands of the cable that they are securely locked thereon and pre-. vented from becoming disengaged. Furthermore, since the tapered surface I3 is also brought into exact conformity with the tapered bore ll of the sleeve, the laws will be firmly held in place by the coaction of these tapered surfaces, in well known manner. By reason or the compressive action brought about upon the Jaws during the assembling of the device, the density of the metal thereof is increased, with the result that the strength of themetal on the'gripping surfaces 1 will also be increased. Furthermore, as the jaws I! are being forced within the sleeve or shell I ii, the cable is being compressed somewhat andto such a degree that the strands of-the cable which are engaged by the laws are tightly forced in contactwith each other so that a substantially solid ring is formed. This compression or collapse of the cable is thus initially brought about and is of a degree substantially equal to the 'collapsibility which would becaused by the estimated load capacity of the cable, whereby, when the estimated load replaced upon the cable, the. size of the cable will remain uncha'nged'because there will be no further collapsing action thereof.

Should it be desired to remove my anchor fromthe cable, it is only necessary to force the sleeve in an opposite direction.

In some cases it may be desirable to further lock theiaws l2 within the sleeve l0, and a very convenient way of doing this is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Each of the jaws is provided in its outer periphery with a notch II. Projections It engaging with the notches II are formed from the rim 21 of the sleeve, at points opposite the notches, by peening or otherwise, thus preventing endwise movement of the jaws and providing a supplemental lock for the complete assembly.

In'I'ig. 6'1 show a connector and two cables 20 and II. This comprises a casing 22 having two oppositely arranged tapered bores It and It. In each of these bores is arranged a number of laws II. It will be seen that after the laws are formed or compressed in place within the casing 22, the ends of the-two cables will thus be firmly becomes necessary to remove the anchor from The 88- the cable this may be accomplished in a-very easy and convenient manner without injury to either the cable or the anchor;

, While I have described the sleeve ll as made of steel and the laws I! as made of bronze, various other materials may be used so long as there is a difference-of ductility which will permit the laws to conform as hereinbefore described.

,Wherever-in the specification and claims the term cable is'used, it isto be understood that my invention is applicable not only to cables but to any rod or bar of relatively non-ductile material having a surface of such nature that, the laws of relatively ductile material will, under pressure, be shaped to conform to it, and the description as applied to cables is only an illustrative example of one use ,of my invention. Furthermore, while'I have shown a sleeve with a tapered bore and jaws with tapered exterior surfaces,'it will beclear that my invention, be- 20 I cause of the ductile nature of the jaws, may have a' sleeve with a cylindrical bore'a'n'd tapered jaws or a sleeve. with a tapered bore and straight Jaws.

These and other modifications of the details herein shown and described may'be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scopeof the appended claims, and I do not,

therefore, wish to be limited to the exact .embodiment herein shown and described, 'the form shown being 'merely a preferred embodiment thereof. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. A method of attaching a multi-strand cable. to an anchor, such anchor having a relatively non-ductile sleeve formed with a tapered bore,

- and a plurality of relativelyduct'ile jaws, comprising the preforming of the jaws with spiral grooves to flt the strands of the cable, then placing'the Jaws upon the cable, and then forging the respective surfaces of the jaws to conform to the individual wires of the cable and to the bore of the sleeve by an axial movement of the sleev over the jaws and cable.

2. A method of attaching a multi-strand cable to an anchor, such anchor having a relatively non-ductile sleeve formed with a tapered bore, and a plurality of relatively ductile jaws, comprising the preforming of the jaws with spiral grooves to fit the'strands of the cable, then placing the jaws upon the cable, and then compressing the cable and forging the respective surfaces of the laws to conform to the individual wires of the cable and to the bore ofthesleeve by an axial movement of the sleeve over the jaws, and cable. 3. In a device of the character described, an anchor for multi-strand cables, comprising an outer'sleeve of relatively non-ductile material, said sleeve being formedwith a central, tapered bore, and a plurality of locking laws of relatively ductile material, each of said jaws having an interior surface initially formed with substantially smooth spiral grooves. to fit only the strands of the cable and with an exterior surface of sub- 'stantially the same taper as the said bore but larger in diameter, the interior surfaces of the jaws being caused to conform to the contours of movement.

. I. BTAHL. 

